PA Memorial remains undefeated with win over Channelview

Updated 6:49 pm, Saturday, October 15, 2011

PA Memorial's Terrence Singleton (right) is tackled by Channelview's Kelvin Young during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.

PA Memorial's Terrence Singleton (right) is tackled by Channelview's Kelvin Young during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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Channelview's Marquise Johnson (left) catches a 50-yard touchdown pass past PA Memorial's Roderic Rucker during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.

Channelview's Marquise Johnson (left) catches a 50-yard touchdown pass past PA Memorial's Roderic Rucker during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in

Channelview's Stanley Wesley (left) escapes the tackle of PA Memorial's James Jenkins during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.

Channelview's Stanley Wesley (left) escapes the tackle of PA Memorial's James Jenkins during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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PA Memorial's Jaylon Howard (6) fumbles a fair catch attempt as Channelview's Stanley Wesley closes in during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.

PA Memorial's Jaylon Howard (6) fumbles a fair catch attempt as Channelview's Stanley Wesley closes in during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in

athew Williams (right) is tackled by PA Memorial's Jereem Augustine during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.

athew Williams (right) is tackled by PA Memorial's Jereem Augustine during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

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PA Memorial's Jhajuan Seales (left) makes a leaping reception past Channelview's Anthony Galvan during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.

PA Memorial's Jhajuan Seales (left) makes a leaping reception past Channelview's Anthony Galvan during the first half of a high school football game, Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown.

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, For The Chronicle

PA Memorial remains undefeated with win over Channelview

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BAYTOWN - Undefeated this season for the first time in school history, state-ranked Port Arthur Memorial was supposed to win.

Not like this.

Channelview gave the Titans everything they could handle by rallying from 11 down in the final 5 minutes to take a four-point lead on quarterback Averion Hurts' fourth touchdown pass.

But Memorial, despite most breaks going against it, kept marching. Quarterback Terrence Singleton leaped into the end zone for the winning TD with 34 ticks left in a 47-44 win Saturday at Stallworth Stadium.

"It was crazy," said Memorial running back Nathan Holmes, who rushed for 162 yards and two scores on 23 carries but was limited in the second half after taking a helmet to his right elbow.

"And since we're undefeated and No. 9 in the state everybody's going to be gunning for us, so we've got to continue playing hard."

With the win, the Titans improved to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in District 21-5A. Channelview, which more than atoned for last week's disappointing loss to La Porte, fell to 4-3, 0-2 in district.

The Titans looked like the better team in the first half, but that didn't translate into a lead on the scoreboard.

The Falcons took advantage of two turnovers - a Singleton pick in the end zone and a fumbled punt return - and two stalled drives, where the Titans settled for field goals, to take a 22-20 halftime lead.

They even had a blocked extra point go their way in the second quarter. The ball went right to Hurts, who was the holder, and he quickly looked to the end zone and found Dwain Taylor for two points.

"You can't turn the ball over, and when you get an opportunity on offense you've got to punch things in," Memorial coach Kenny Harrison said. "We had to settle for a couple field goals against a good football team, with a good offense like Channelview, and you really just can't do that.

"You've got to make every possession count, and we're just fortunate we got the win at the end."

The Titans quickly regained the lead in the second half, and then they showed impressive poise in pushing it to 40-29 with 5:10 left in the fourth quarter on Singleton's 17-yard TD pass to Aerian Jackson.

But the Falcons, who go deep in the passing game far more than most teams in the area, weren't ready to let this one go.

They answered with a nine-play scoring drive, capped by Terrell Williams' 14-yard TD run with 2:52 remaining, then attempted an onside kick that Devin Phillips recovered at the Memorial 47.

Six quick plays later, Hurts found Leterio Brown, who had two TD receptions after missing last week with an injury, for a 36-yard scoring strike and 44-40 lead with 1:30 left in the fourth quarter.

Singleton then helped the Titans pull out the win, carrying on the final three plays of their go-ahead drive, which he capped with a nine-yard TD.

"The one thing that I'm proud of is our kids hung in there and came back and won one at the end, and we understand in order for us to get to the level we want to be on there are going to be some games like this.

"Coming on the road and pulling one off is just a big-time plus for our program."

Hurts completed 23 of 40 passes for 404 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in defeat. The Falcons had 485 total yards and 19 first downs. Brown had seven receptions for 134 yards.

The Titans racked up 556 total yards and 33 first downs. Singleton was 12-of-18 passing for 194 yards, two TDs and one INT. He also rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.

"The kids played hard," Channelview coachAverion Hurts senior said. "For whatever reason we always play them tough, and we expected that today. They have a great team and we don't feel that we're that bad either. We thought that we would give them a test offensively.